(A/N: Sorry about not keeping to my promise of updating once a week, but someone at work quit with no notice after two other people leaving. That left us severely under-staffed and me working 6 days a week. On my day off each week, I spent most of the day asleep or in a brain-dead stupor. For a while, we had hired a decent amount of people and I began work on this chapter. Then half our staff quit again. It's a real shit-show, but all the angst has inspired me. Anyhoo, I don't own anything you might recognize but the plot and my OCs. Enjoy!)

Chapter 27: The Fun Kind of Insanity

After conferring with Darren, we agreed to ask Su Li about us meeting up each Saturday afternoon for our practice/performances. I'm still waiting on the owl. This Saturday, however, is off limits. Ginny's friend is coming over and I have to say that I'm pretty excited to meet the girl that has kept my little sister sane.

I absolutely adore my little sister. We have already grown so close just from sharing a room. Staying up late talking about anything and everything is something I'll always treasure. I might spend my days running around playing and causing mischief with my brothers, but those nights are just special. Except.

Except I can't help but notice that my sister has a crush-bordering-on-obsession on Harry. This angered and hurt something deep inside me, I saw him first. That thought sprang forth in my mind like a vicious wasp bursting out of its hiding place in the depths of a flower. I hate those thoughts and how they make me feel. I mean, I look at my spirited little sister and all I want to do is protect her in every way possible. Unlike how Joey just stood by and let me be bullied. Running my fingers through my over-long bangs I sighed. If I told her that I have feelings for Harry too, it would only lead to heartache for us both. With that in mind, I made my decision. I would never voice or act on my feelings for Harry. I would rather cut off my own legs than crush my little sister's heart.

Rolling my eyes as I went back to my homework, I had to admit to myself that we were all too young for this stuff anyway. I was doing my homework this early for two reasons. One, I have a lot planned for this summer that will be more fun without the worry of summer work. Two, I had spoken to Hermione over the payphone in the village and it came up. I had to promise to do it for her to drop the topic. She also mentioned that she hasn't heard anything from Harry. It's only been a couple of weeks, so I'm not too worried. I am uneasy about it, though. I hate that I let my friend go back to a place where he is miserable and mistreated. To make myself feel better, I made a note to myself to call him this weekend somehow.

With that in mind, I continued to struggle through my potions essay.

~oOo~

Saturday morning began with an excited Ginny bouncing on my bed.

I opened one eye to glare at my horridly morning-loving sister and grumbled, "If I sit up will you stop?"

"Honestly! You and Ron are just the same! Aren't you even the least bit excited to meet Luna?" Ginny huffed.

Sitting up and yawning, I replied, "Yeah, well…twins y'know? And of course I am. I was just under the impression she wouldn't be here until this afternoon."

Now I was in the odd position of having my younger sibling giving me a disapproving look as she responded, "She's coming at noon and it's eleven now."

I swore and started flinging my clothes around in my trunk looking for a nice looking outfit so I could make a good impression. "Where are my glasses?!"

"On your face, Kayla."

"Oh. Heh."

"Calm down, you prat!"

"I can't find my black jeans!"

"They're in your hand, you great moron."

"Right, right. Sorry, Gin!"

Deciding not to push my little sister anymore, I just grabbed a random t shirt and my grey sweater. After that, I brushed my hair and put it into a loose braid so it wouldn't tangle too much if we decided to go outside.

"Hey, Gin. Do you want me to do anything with your hair? I really want to play with some hair and I doubt the boys would like it if I tried to braid theirs." I asked, putting on my best pouty expression.

Ginny tried to look frustrated as she sat in front of me so I could work with her beautifully straight hair. I could tell, though, that she was enjoying this sisterly sort of moment just as much as me. I decided to do two French-braids that converged into a ponytail.

I was just tying off the ponytail when mum shouted to us that Luna had arrived.

As we rushed down, I heard the boys going outside to 'escape.' That seems ominous.

The source of their discomfort appeared to be a dainty girl with wide blue eyes and gorgeous curly blonde hair that reached her waist. She was dressed in a rather odd combinations of purple pants, a green peasant shirt, and an orange headband to match the orange radishes dangling from her ears.

She smiled dreamily as she said, "Hello, my name is Luna Lovegood. Did you know that your twin seems to have an alarming amount of nargles flying around him? Perhaps he should wear his hair like yours, Ginny, so that they won't have as many places to hide."

Ginny was trying to stifle her giggles as my eyebrows rose in confusion. "Okay, three things: One, nice to meet you Luna, I'm Kayla. Two, what's a nargle? And three, I can do your hair in the same way if you'd like."

Luna's smile widened as she replied, "Nargles are invisible creatures that fly around your head and cloud your thoughts. And if you wouldn't mind, I'd love for you to do my hair. It seems like something a friend would do."

My own smile faltered at the implication that she didn't have that many friends. "Well, I was hoping we could be friends so it makes sense that I'd want to do friend-like things with you. Now, why don't we go up to Gin's and my room so we aren't messing about with hair in the kitchen."

Mum, who had been watching all this with a slight smile, nodded in appreciation at the thought.

Once we were all situated in the room with Luna in front of me and Ginny across from us. I decided to try and start up a conversation while I brushed Luna's hair. Such beautiful curls, I wish my hair could make up its mind if it wants to be curly or straight… not like this wavy nonsense it does. "So, Luna. You're going to Hogwarts next year as well, right? What house do you hope to be in?"

She replied, "Ravenclaw. 'Wit beyond measure is man's greatest treasure!'"

Ginny rolled her eyes a little with a grin, she obviously had already heard this before.

"Cool, I have a bandmate from Ravenclaw and she seems really nice." I commented, braiding diligently. Merlin, do I love having friends to play with hair with.

"You have a band? Ginny didn't mention this when she told me about you all of this year." Luna replied blissfully unaware of Ginny becoming a very embarrassed red.

"I was excited about you okay?" She muttered, looking away. I smiled warmly at her.

Turning back to my braiding, I replied to Luna. "Well, we haven't really practiced together yet as we only got our final member right before term ended. We're hoping to really get off the ground at the Leaky Cauldron this summer. Mr. Tom is going to let us practice and perform there."

"I still can't believe you were able to convince mum to let you do that!" Ginny exclaimed, fishing around in her bedside table for some nail polish.

"Me either seeing as the Leaky Cauldron is a front for the Wither Knee Movement…" Luna started expanding on a conspiracy that involved chairs with a weakening solution on them and broom companies.

The amount of creativity, enthusiasm, and innocence with which she spoke thoroughly charmed me and I came to the realization that I have probably just gained another sister.

I smiled at that thought.

~oOo~

Once Luna left, I went in search of my twin whom I hadn't seen at all today. Finding him, Fred, George, and Charlie playing a two on two game of Quidditch; I settled underneath a tree to watch them and soak in the peace of the orchard.

"Hey, Kayla! D'you want to join us?" Ron asked as he spotted me with a grin.

"I'd make the teams uneven. Plus, I sort of just wanted to relax and watch you and Charlie get slaughtered by Gred and Forge." I smirked lightly, teasing my twin.

Ron pouted as the elder twins zoomed past to give me simultaneous high-fives. Charlie was right after them, ruffling my hair in retaliation over my comment.

"Oi!" I yelled, throwing a stick at him for ruining my braid.

The dragon tamer just dodged and laughed.

"They're going to be even more bloody annoying now! Did you have to say that?" Ron grumbled, landing next to me.

"Yes. Yes I did, dearest twin. Pride comes before fall and all that." I smirked wickedly and over-exaggeratedly waggled my eyebrows, nudging my now sniggering twin.

Charlie was howling with laughter at the terror's put-out expressions.

Ron then decided that he had apparently not had his daily dose of shoe-leather and asked, "So has Loony left yet?"

My face quickly turned stony and I coolly replied, "Luna, who happens to be a very sweet girl, did leave. You shouldn't call her that. I think she's very creative and funny."

Ron quickly back-tracked, "Merlin! I didn't mean anything by it, honestly!"

Seeing the earnest expression on my twin's face, I softened. "I know you didn't, I just get the feeling that people pick on her a lot. You know how much I hate that."

Ron wrapped an arm around my shoulder and replied, "We can watch out for her at school if it bothers you that much."

I smiled and hugged him as we turned to leave back for the house. Both of us missed seeing Charlie cover the elder twins' mouths and smiling dotingly at the sweet moment.